Hollywood has a long history of making films in which the heroes find themselves completely out of their depth or stranded in a completely new environment.
How many of these fish-out-of-water movies have you seen and what is your favourite?
Blast From The Past
Plot: A naive man comes out into the world after spending 35 years in a nuclear fallout shelter.
Director: Hugh Wilson
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Walken
Genre: Comedy
Released: April 1999
Adam Weber is the child of an eccentric inventor and his wife. Following a bomb scare in the 1960s that locked the Webers in their bomb shelter for 35 years, Adam Weber must venture out into Los Angeles and obtain food and supplies for his family. He meets Eve, who reluctantly agrees to help him out. Written by Foggy
Crocodile Dundee
Plot: An American reporter goes to the Australian outback to meet an eccentric crocodile poacher and invites him to New York City.
Director: Peter Faiman
Starring: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon
Genre: Adventure/Action/Comedy
Released: December 1989
Michael J. “Crocodile” Dundee is an Australian crocodile hunter who lives in the Australian outback and runs a safari business with his trusted friend and mentors Walter Reilly. After surviving a crocodile attack, a New York journalist named Sue arrives to interview Mick about how he survived and learns more about the crocodile hunter. After saving Sue from a crocodile, Sue invites Mick to visit New York City, since Mick has never been to a city. Mick finds the culture and life in New York City a lot different than his home and he finds himself falling in love with Sue. Written by Daniel Williamson
Demolition Man
Plot: A police officer is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent nemesis who is loose in a non-violent future society.
Director: Marco Brambilla
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock
Released: November 1993
Frozen in 1996, Simon Phoenix, a convicted crime lord, is revived for a parole hearing well into the 21st century. Revived into a society free from crime, Phoenix resumes his murderous rampage, and no one can stop him. John Spartan, the police officer who captured Phoenix in 1996, has also been cryogenically frozen, this time for a crime he did not commit. In 2032, the former cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara have merged into peaceful, utopian San Angeles. Unable to stop him with their non-violent solutions, the police release Spartan to help recapture Phoenix. Now after 36 years, Spartan has to adapt himself to the future society he has no knowledge about. Written by Rob Hartill
Big
Plot: After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.
Director: Penny Marshall
Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia
Released: October 1988
Josh Baskin would do anything to be big to hang out with his crush at the carnival. He finds a Zoltar machine, and he wishes to be big. After Zoltar tells him, “his wish is granted”, Josh notices the machine is unplugged. He wakes up the next morning in an adult’s body but he still has the same personality. With the help of his best friend, Billy, Josh learns how to act like a grown-up. But as he gets a girlfriend and a fun job, he doesn’t want to be a kid again. Will Josh stay big or become a 13-year-old boy again?
Elf
Plot: After discovering he is a human, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole decides to travel to New York City to locate his real father.
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart
Released: November 2003
Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa’s sack and ended up at the North Pole. Later, as an adult human who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Hobbs, on Santa’s naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter’s relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities. Written by Ken Miller
